Switch frog



May 12, 1925. 1,537,508

J. P. SWIFT SWITCH FROG rma Dec. '13. 1924 /2 a rm 0a Patented May 12, 1925.

UNITED STATES JAMES P. SWIFT, OF MILLSTONE, KENTUCKY;

SWITCH FROG.

Application filed December 13, 1924. Serial No. 755,735.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES PEARL SWIFT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Millstone, in the county of Letcher and 'State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Switch Frog, of which the following is a specifica tion.

This invention relates to improvements in switch frogs and more particularly to an improvement over Patent No. 1,501,822, granted to me July 15, 1924.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide a protector in connection with the switch frog for preventing the accumulation of dirt and the like in the recess in which the pivoted frog is adapted for movement so that the pivoted frog may properly function when actuated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch frog of the above mentioned character, wherein means is associated with the recess provided for the pivoted frog member to permit the discharge of dirt and water which may accumulate therein.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a switch frog of the above'mentioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable and furthermore adapted for the purposes for which it is designated.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the switch frog embodying my invention, and

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 22 of Figure 1.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates the base plate, the same being provided with the longitudinally extending grooves 2 and 3 in the upper surface thereof, the grooves gradually converging toward the forward end of the plate. The base plate is provided with an'enlarged recess 4 which is located between the ends ofthe plate and communicates with the intermediate portions of the grooves 2 and 3, the sides of the recess being disposed adjacent the respective sides of the base ly illustrated in Figure l.

A tongue 5 is located withinthe recess l and is supported on a suitable pivot 6 at its rear end. The tongue is provided in its upper surface with the longitudinally extending grooves 7 and 8 respectively, the same also converging toward the forward plate as is clearend of the tongue and being adapted to be brought in alignment with the respective grooves .provided in the base plate. The grooves in the base plate and the cooperating grooves in thetongue 5 are adapted to receive the flanges of the car wheels in the manner well known in the art.

The grooves 7 and 8 in the tongue are spaced from each other at the opposite side edges of the tongue and beyond the outer sides of the grooves 7 and 8 the tread portions 9 and 10 extend, the ends of the tread portions being adapted to be brought into cooperative relation with the upper surface of the base plate at the respective ends thereof when the tongue 5 is moved on its pivot 6.

As the operating means for actuating the tongue 5 is fully described in my patent above referred to, and as the same forms no important part of the present invention, a further detailed description thereof is not thought necessary.

For the purpose of preventing the accumulation of dirt and any other. foreign 7 substance Within the recess 4 between the tread portions of the tongue and the sides and ends of the recess, to further prevent the possibility ofa person accidentally placing his foot between the tongue and the recess in the base plate, a pair of cover. plates such as are illustrated at 11 and 12 respectively are provided. The cover plate 11 is secured on the upper surface of the base plate 1 by any suitable fastening means shown at 13 and the same extends over the recess 4: at one side thereof and over the major portion 7 of the tread 9 of the tongue 5. In a similar manner, the protector plate 12 is secured on the upper surface of the base plate over the opposite longitudinal side of the open- Suitable drain openings 14k eXtend from the forward portion of the recess 4% at the side thereof wherebywater and any foreign substance which may accidentally collect in the recess may be drained therefrom.

The provision of the protector plate will at all times insure the proper operation of the tongue 5 so that the grooves therein may be brought into alignment with the corresponding grooves provided in the base plate.

'The simplicity in which the switch frog is constructed permits the protector plate to be readily and easily secured in pos tion on the upper surface thereof.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing fron'rthe spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim is A "switch frog comprising a base plate having longitudinally extending grooves formed in the upper surface thereof, said grooves converging toward the forward end ot the plate, said base plate being a recess provided therein between the ends thereof and communicating with the] grooves, a tongue pivoted at its rear end in the recess and having con-verging grooves provlded 1n the upper surface thereof adapted to be' brought in alineinent with the corresponding grooves provided in the base plate, thegrooves in the tongue, said baseplate having recesses provided with drain openings at the sides thereof.

In ture.

JAMES P.-.SW1FT.

testimony whereof I aff x in signa- 

